The Snowman is a short animated Christmas story about a young boy and a snowman on a journey to visit Santa Claus. The mini film release on December 26th, 1982, it’s based on Raymond Briggs’ 1978 picture book ‘The Snowman’. It was directed by Dianne Jackson and was first shown in England on Boxing Day on Channel 4. The film has been shown on Christmas day every year since.

The Snowman – Did You Know?

1. The beautiful song ‘Walking In The Air’ was sung by Peter Auty, he was paid £300 to sing the song, but he was never credited for it because they had to rush the release of the film.

2. There is a ‘The Snowman’ Video Game that released in 1984 on the ZX Spectrum and Commodore 64, it is a platform game, simular to Donkey Kong. You play as the boy who’s mission is to collect snow to build the snowman, while avoiding flames and sleep monsters.

3. In one version of The Snowman, the famous British popstar David Bowie opens the film starring as the young boy grown up wearing the same scarf given to him by his snowman friend.

4. The Author Raymond Briggs wrote The Snowman as a way of introducing children to the concept of mortality, to show that everything has an end, but to enjoy your life and the moments you spend with others. He said “I create what seems natural and inevitable, The snowman melts, my parents died, animals die, flowers die. Everything does. There’s nothing particularly gloomy about it. It’s a fact of life. I don’t have happy endings.”

5. The Snowman is set in Brighton, England, you can see the snowman and the young boy fly over Brighton Pier and Brighton Pavilion, plus on the boy’s gift, the name tag says, James, Brighton.

You can watch The Snowman on All 4 or wait and see it on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day on Channel 4.

Enjoy A Glass of Montelvini This Christmas

Montelvini has been around for 135 years, owned by the Serena family, the current owner, Armando Serena has been President of Montelvini since 1968, located in a small region in Montello in Italy, the Serena family has dedicated themselves to producing wine with skill and passion.

Montelvini – Serenitatis Asolo Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Ripe green and yellow frutis on the aroma.”

Flavours – “Crisp green apples, floral and apricot flavours.”

This Prosecco Won a Silver Medal in the Light & Fruity Category at The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2020.

The Snowman Cocktail

Ingredients

• Sparkling Wine
• Vanilla Ice Cream
• Eggnog

How To Make The The Snowman Cocktail

1. Place 4 scoops of Vanilla Ice Cream into your glass.
2. Pour in 100mls of your delicious eggnog.
3. Then top with some Prosecco or other Sparkling Wine.

How To Make The Eggnog

Ingredients

• 2 egg yolks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 cup milk
• 1 whole clove
• Pinch of cinnamon
• 1/2 cup cream
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon of rum

Method

1. In a bowl beat egg yolks until they become somewhat lighter in colour. Slowly add the sugar. Whisk until fluffy.
2. Pour the milk into a saucepan and add the clove and cinnamon. Slowly heat on medium heat until the milk mixture is steamy hot, but not boiling.
3. Slowly add half of the hot milk mixture into the eggs, whisking constantly then pour the mixture back into the saucepan.
4. Heat the mixture on medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon until it begins to thicken slightly. Do not allow the mixture to boil, or it will curdle.
5. Remove from heat and stir in the cream.
6. Leave to cool for one hour.
7. Stir in vanilla extract, nutmeg and rum and chill for 1 hour.

 

Cocktail Tasting Notes

Aroma – “Vanilla ice cream and Eggnog aromas. “

Flavours – “An explosion of vanilla and Eggnog with green and yellow fruit flavours coming form the Prosecco, it’s a Christmas sparkling milkshake.”

Have A Merry Christmas